Essay (15 points, 300-600 words)

Essay (15 points, 300-600 words)
A longer essay is encouraged for students aiming for a B or higher.
Official art and architecture in the Islamic world plays a major role in constructing the image of the ruler and his/her/their identity, ideals, beliefs, and goals.
Study and analyze the following three works from diverse cultures and time periods that we have studied in the second half of the semester.
How is the image of the ruler represented in each work? What key themes about the ruler, dynasty, and empire does each work express and emphasize? How does the official image of the ruler differ in the three works?
In all three works, architecture plays an important role in framing the image of the ruler and must be addressed and identified, in addition to figural representation.
Prompt:
⦁ Identify each work by title, artist, patron, date, culture, medium (The ID is required, but is not part of the word count).
⦁ Study and analyze the works. Note: the first work is a double-page painting, so you must discuss both folia (leaves or pages). For the last work, you must identify and discuss not only the common space, but the four major building complexes that open onto it.
⦁ Analyze media, materials, techniques, formal elements, subject matter, style, and iconography. Also, plan for the last work.
⦁ Interpret and compare the meaning of each work, considering the original function and context, physically, historically, and culturally.
⦁ Consider how each work represents the official image, identity, and goals of the ruler-patron who commissioned it.
⦁ Use relevant Islamic art and architecture vocabulary in your essay.
⦁ Cite all sources of quoted or paraphrased information with in-text, parenthetical citations. Example: (Ahmed, date). A bibliography isn’t needed.
⦁ Use only assigned course materials and resources. Points will be deducted if you use other sources.